The Rainhill trials were a competition run in October 1829, to test George Stephenson's argument that locomotives would have the best motive power for the then nearly-completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway

Ten locomotives were entered, of which five were able to compete, running along a 1 mile length of level track at Rainhill, in Lancashire (now Merseyside). 

 Stephenson's Rocket was the only locomotive to complete the trials

To see what they looked like, check out a fan's CGI video of the event, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1886828738255343/user/100015398208426/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainhill_trials